Fire-arms



gated (time. 3

LINCOLN A. MERRI-AM, 9F NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 87.058. dated February 16, I869.

IMPROVEMENT IN. BREECH-LOADING- FIRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to inthese.Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,L11voo u AdllnmuAM, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a \new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms; anddo hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure I represents a side view, and

Figure II, a top view ofthe breech of the gun.

Figure III is a view of the cartridge, with part of the shell removed,to show the interior.

Figure IV is a longitudinal section of Fig. III.

Figure Vis atransverse section ofFigs. I and II, in the line a-b. I

Figure VI is a transverse section of Figs. I and II, in the line 0-11.

Figure VII is a section of the barrel, showing the form of riding.

The letters of reference indicate the same parts -in the differentfigures.

My invention relates to certain devices, hereinafter described, by meansof which the sliding portion, or breech-piece of a breech-loadingfire-arm, is secured against the reaction of the explosion.

A is part of the stock or casing, in which the sliding breech B iscontained.

B contains the chamber a, formed for the reception of the cartridge. Inthe present instance the space I is formed to contain the annularenlarged part of the cartridge, described in my patent dated January 19,1869.

The forward portion, e, of the sliding breech B, is cylindrical, but therear portion, f, is elliptical, or of any equivalent section, andcontains the firing-pin, operated by a lock of any convenient form.

The casing A is cylindrical in the forward portion of the cavity, andadmits of the free longitudinal androtary motion of the part 0, but itsrear portion is made to conform to the part f, leaving shoulders at gand n. In the present instance, the longest diameter of the opening ishorizontal, in relation to the usual position of the arm when in'the actof being discharged, as shown in Fig. V

The arm K is attached to the sliding breech, for the purpose of movingit backward and forward, and traverses in the slot S, which is wideenough to admit the cartridge in loading.

A washer, w, maybe used, fitting upon the elliptical part f, andcircular at its periphery, to revolve in its slot in the casing.

Vhen the arm is loaded for use, the breech-piece B is moved ihrward toits place by means of the arm K, its length being so adjusted as just toclear the-elliptic cavity, and rest in contact with the shoulders eand'n, then revolved about one-fourth of a circle, the arm K resting in anotch, l, and the rear bearing against the shoulders, thus securing astrong and solid support to resist the reaction of the explosion, muchmore reliable than the usual expedient of using the arm K, and the notchinto which it fits,.for that purpose, the

'arm, ifnot made of an inconvenient size and strength,

being very liable to break or bend under the concussion of thedischarge, as well as from extraneous causes.

' The barrel consists of a circular bore, with internal projectingthreads, or feathers, arranged spirally, the bearing-faces of which areradial, and the backs inclined to such an angle with the faces as ismost conducive to strength, in accordance with the rules of mechanicalconstruction.

The cylindrical form of the barrel being maintained, and the rotarymotion being derived from spiral feathers, described, there will be lesstendency to wedging in the bore than in those forms of rifiing in whichbroad eccentric grooves are used.

The cartridge consists of the usual metallic shell,

carrying a projection, 1), fixed in the base, and extending to aboutmidway of the charge, and bearing the fulminate in its forward end.

The projectile has an elongation, or tail, g, which meets the projection19, and forms, with the shot, an effective anvil.

By means of these appliances, the powder is exploded at or near thecentre of its volume, insuring its rapid and complete combustion.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- The combination of the elliptic end f of the breechpiece with theshoulders y and a, when arranged, in relation to the breech-piece andits casing, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

LIN OOLN A. MERRIAM.

Witnesses:

EDM. F.. BROWN, J. E. M. BOWEN.

